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Cuban Vaca Frita with a Twist (Paleo, Gluten-Free, Keto, Soy-Free)


Cuban Vaca Frita with a Twist (Paleo, Gluten-Free, Keto, Soy-Free).jpg
 Cuban Vaca Frita with a Twist (Paleo, Gluten-Free, Keto, Soy-Free)


Hi, my friends! Hope everybody is doing fine!

I am dancing on one foot right now 🕺😊 I love this dish! and I am hoping you will do as well. Comforting food, superrr... savory, protein, and veggies packed, is very healthy, gluten-free, paleo, keto, low in carbs, everything here is natural with no additives at all, do you want more than that? I really don't.

This is the traditional dish in my country Cuba, it´s very rich on the palate, easy to make, and brings all the memories of my life there. It´s also a well-known dish internationally.

It´s usually served with white rice and fried ripe plantains or tostones (fried green plantains).

The skirt meat is very tasty on its own, even if it is boiled with water and salt, I really like it, so, when you add some simple ingredients to it, it will become in a savory dish for the family!

You can see here the traditional recipe below, you will note that I changed it because I want to add some ingredients, and the result it´s super delicious, without denying the original.

So, let´s get started!.

Cuban Vaca Frita with a Twist (Paleo, Gluten-Free, Keto, Soy-Free).jpg
Cuban Vaca Frita with a Twist (Paleo, Gluten-Free, Keto, Soy-Free)


CUBAN VACA FRITA WITH A TWIST (Paleo, Gluten-Free, Keto, Soy-Free)

Cuban Vaca Frita with a Twist (Paleo, Gluten-Free, Keto, Soy-Free).jpg
Cuban Vaca Frita with a Twist 



Cooking Time the meat: 30 min
Preparing Time: 10-15 min 
Frying Time: 10-15 min
Total Time: 55 min.
The recipe makes 4-5 servings


Ingredients:

2 pounds of grass-fed skirt meat shredded
tablespoons of coconut aminos                                      
salt to taste
black pepper to taste
1 large onion sliced and divided
5 large garlic cloves minced
1 large sweet bell pepper sliced (any will work)
2 tablespoons of oregano, fresh or dried
1/2 teaspoon of cumin
2 bay leaves
1/2-1 teaspoon of paprika
1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper
1/3 cup of lemon juice
1/3 cup of dry red wine or white
2-3 drops of gluten-free sriracha  (optional)
2-3 celery stalks (depending on the size)
1/3 cup of green olives (whole or halved)
1/2 cup coconut oil, avocado oil, and olive oil
1/4 cup of parsley leaves for garnish (optional)
Instructions:

In a pressure cooker, instant pot, or any will work, throw water to cover the skirt to boil,  put a teaspoon of salt and adjust the time, I left mine for 30 minutes, this is the traditional method, but into an Instant Pot is will be cooked rapidly about 15-20 minutes without to much water.

When is cooked, drain the broth and reserve it for another use

With your hands or two forks, shred the meat, like pulled pork.

The original recipe leaves the strips very long, I cut de meat in chunks before putting them to cook, so that it is easier to eat it, but choose which way you want. Set aside.

Prepare part of the sauce, in the pot or skillet melt 1/4 cup of oil, at medium-low temperature.

Throw the 2 bay leaves and the 3/4 parts of the onion slices, then add the minced garlic until fragrant.

Add to the skillet the meat, oregano, cumin, coconut aminos, lemon juice, black and cayenne peppers, and paprika, and stir well.

Then raise the temperature to medium-high frying the meat, pour a little by little oil, and stir again until the meat starts to brown.

Add the sweet bell pepper slices, chopped celery stalks, and the green olives halved.

Stir, don´t let the meat burn, but you will want it caramelized and toasted.

Enjoy with salad, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cauliflower, rice, raw salad, steamed salad, bread, etc

Note: I divided the onion slices because, in the end, I like my vegetables crisp, also the sweet bell pepper, but you can put them all at the beginning, as I said in the instructions.

You can take advantage of cooking your meat before work, at night, etc, and then fried it.

TRADITIONAL CUBAN VACA FRITA (Paleo, Keto, Gluten-Free)

Traditional Cuban Vaca Frita (Paleo, Keto, Gluten-Free).jpg
Traditional Cuban Vaca Frita



Cooking Time the meat: 30 min
Preparing Time: 5-10 min 
Frying Time: 10-15 min
Total Time: 55 min.
The recipe makes 4-5 servings


Ingredients:                                                                                   
  1. 2 pounds of skirt meat shredded                
  2. Salt to taste
  3. Black pepper to taste
  4. 1 large onion sliced and divided
  5. 1 large green bell pepper sliced, (red, yellow, and orange will work)
  6. 2 tablespoons of oregano
  7. 1/2 tsp cumin
  8. 1/2 cup of lemon juice
  9. 1/4-1/3 cup of olive oil, avocado oil, or coconut oil
  10. 1/4 cup chives chopped for garnish (optional)
      Instructions:

      Repeat the first 5 steps.

      Throw 3/4 parts of the onion slices, stir, then add the minced onion until fragrant.

      Add to the skillet the shredded meat, oregano, and lemon juice.

      Then raise the temperature to medium-high frying the meat, pour a little by little oil, and stir again until the meat begins to toast and brown spots appear.

      Add the green bell pepper and a quarter of the onions sliced.

      Continue stirring until the meat is crunchy, with charred spots, and the green pepper and onions are tender but do not let it burn.

      Enjoy!

      Notes: This recipe could be good for the AIP diet too if you omit the green bell pepper and black pepper.

      You can put over any kind of rice (including cauliflower rice), any green salad, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkin, fried plantains is the bomb with it or anything that would pair with it.

      If you like to use it as a party treat, go for it, and serve it on crackers, on plantain cups, or tostones with a little hot sauce or ketchup on it 😋

      The green bell pepper is used traditionally but can be replaced by others.

      Did you like this recipe?  will you do it!?

      Nutrition Facts of Cuban Vaca Frita with a Twist (Paleo, Gluten-Free, Keto, Soy-Free).jpg













      If you like this, maybe you want to know another Cuban recipe with a twist.

      SLOW COOKER BEEF STEW WITH THE TASTE OF "ROPA VIEJA" (Paleo, Gluten-Free)

      Remember, "Your body is a temple, but only if you treat it as one". Astrid Alauda. 

      If you like it, you can share it with your friends. It will be kindly appreciated by me. Thank you! 💗

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